The Joint House and Senate Conference Committee adopted the conference draft (CD1) of HB 697 CD1, which updates Hawaii’s automated speed enforcement program and related statutory definitions.

According to conferees, the CD1 expands the set of authorized reviewing entities to include Department of Transportation law enforcement, county police departments and contracted service providers acting under supervision; it updates verification procedures for automated speed enforcement images used to issue citations and increases the enforcement threshold from 5 mph to 7 mph over posted speed limits. The CD1 also specifies mailing and deadline procedures for citation notices and includes a severability clause to protect remaining provisions if parts are invalidated.

The CD1 appropriates $2,000,000 to the city highway fund for fiscal year 2025–26 to support establishment and implementation of the program and lists an effective date of July 1, 2025, for the enacted provisions.

The conference managers recorded affirmative votes on the CD1 and the chair announced adoption. The transcript shows no amendment substantially altering the central changes to verification procedures, threshold or the listed appropriation during the conference adoption discussion.

The committee recessed after the roll call and then continued with subsequent measures.